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. 2010 Apr 14;2010(4):CD001888. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001888.pub4

Abuzakuk 2007.

Methods Patients were randomised to receive an autologous reinfusion drain or a standard suction drain using the computer program MINIM. The method used to conceal treatment allocation was not described.
Participants 104 consecutive patients undergoing primary cemented total knee arthroplasty were randomised to one of two groups:
  • Group 1 (Autotransfusion group): n=52

  • Group 2 (Control group): n=52


NB: Of the 104 randomised patients 43 were male and 61 were female. The mean age of randomised subjects was 68.5 years.
Interventions
  • Group 1: Autotransfusion group (Bellovac autotransfusion system) had one deep drain inserted at the end of the operation. The drain was opened in the recovery room 20 minutes after the tourniquet was released. If blood collected in the reinfusion drain was more than 150mls it was transfused back into the patient unwashed and a new bag was then attached to the drain. The process was repeated if the amount of blood collected again exceeded 150mls.

  • Group 2: Control group (Redivac standard suction drain) had their collected blood discarded.

Outcomes Outcomes reported: number of patients transfused allogeneic blood, amount of allogeneic blood transfused, blood loss, hospital length of stay, Hb & Hct levels, wound problems, knee range of motion.
Notes Transfusion threshold: allogeneic blood transfusion was given if the haemoglobin level was less than 9.0g/dL.
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Low risk The software program MINIM was used to randomise patients to intervention or control.
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk The method used to conceal treatment allocation was not described.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) 
 All outcomes High risk